An open letter of the China Support Network to all activists and human rights groups

May,
2002
Dear
Fellow Activist,

The
entire community of human rights activists is being presented with an urgent
action -- with a twist. In addition to its being urgent, we have come into a
situation which is huge in its dimensions, amazing in its implications, and an
unprecedented opportunity for the human rights community.
It began
with the leak of secret documents from the Chinese government. Within, we
learned that Chinese authorities have ordered a human rights crackdown, "to
better welcome the smooth holding of the 2008 Olympic Games in our
country." The
order pushes many buttons that are frankly alarm bells for activists. In the
name of the Olympics, a series of punishments are specified, including arrests
without warrants. Singled out for the harshest punishment are practitioners of
the Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Now,
while abusing its people on the one hand, China is abusing the meaning of the
Olympics on the other hand -- and creating linkage between its brand of tyranny
and the Olympic name. To
think about this is to get hot under the collar. The more you read about this,
the more offensive it gets. As the director of the China Support Network, I
wrote the article, "Olympic Misbehavior From China," about this
matter, which can be read at kusumi.com.

Our
essential point is that China should lose the Olympics over this
matter. To this end, the China Support Network has launched its urgent action --
our campaign to "take the Olympics back" from China. We
seek your help and supportive actions.
The
activist community has a unique situation. The revulsion is a no-brainer. This
should rock the sports world, as well as the human rights community, adding up
to a wider audience. Chinese
human rights and democracy come back onto the table. Loss of the Olympics for
Beijing would be an enormous (Olympic-sized?) blow, under the gaze of the
international community. Here, we can gain actual pressure for human rights in
China, where repercussions are likely. For activists on China, this is unique.
Please
help one and all to mobilize against the hosting of the Olympics in Beijing,
China, in 2008. China can have a very strong message from the world community,
that we do not approve of these actions, and that we have higher standards than
this.
Among
activists, we hope you will pick up and repeat our information. If your
organization would like to be a co-sponsor of our action, e-mail CSN with an
endorsement. We seek targeted pressure for the International Olympic Committee
to remove the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, China. We also seek public expressions
of support. We hope to see your published statement, proclamation, endorsement,
editorial, letter to the editor, or what-have-you. Encourage everyone to sound
off!
For the
further information of activists, appended below is the open letter as directed
to the general public.

Dear
American,

For
myself and for the China Support Network, let me introduce you to our amazing,
urgent, and outrageous situation, which we suddenly face.

We are
suddenly campaigning for China to lose its host status for the 2008 Olympic
games. These were scheduled to go to Beijing, and there is a new "smoking
gun" outrage which is so large, it requires, calls for, and demands
removing the Olympic name off of this Chinese abuse.

A
Chinese crackdown on human rights is always revolting -- but now, the Communists
went too far and crossed a line, in naming the Olympics as the pretext and
reason for a crackdown -- in top secret Chinese government orders, with the
Olympics' name on them. The orders came to light this month. Now, there is a
crackdown campaign to abuse Chinese human rights, in the name of the Olympics.

The
Chinese Communists should not be using the Olympic name as an excuse for their
vile practices of gross, flagrant violation of people. It is an absolute misuse
and debasement of the meaning of the Olympics.

Chinese
people, such as practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, should not
suffer more because of the Olympics. There should be no extra death, torture, or
incarceration because of the Olympics!

The more
you read about this, the more offensive it gets. I have written the article,
"Olympic Misbehavior From China," about this matter, and it is
inserted at the end of this letter.

Can we
remove the Olympics from China, and do the right thing? This is an achievable
objective, and we are appealing for your help.

Hosting
the Olympics is a privilege, not a right. Also, it is important to protect the
"brand name" of the Olympics. Any marketing manager would say,
"get our brand name off of that torture and tyranny." We believe, the
International Olympic Committee can be brought to see matters the same way.

The
alternative brings us to a new question about human rights statistics – what
portion is Olympic-related? By present estimates, Falun Gong has suffered 1,700
deaths, 20,000 labor camp sentences, and 100,000 arrests. We can only guess what
portion has been added by the Olympic crackdown. By way of example, if 4% is due
to the Olympic crackdown, then we have 68 deaths, 800 labor camp sentences, and
4,000 arrests in the name of the Olympics.

A
SPORTING EVENT should not precipitate ANY percentage of deaths, slave labor, or
prisoners of conscience. –Yes, we can remove the Olympics from China. To
preserve any semblance of upstanding character, this is already the right thing
for the International Olympic Committee to do.

But, we
urgently need help from you and all concerned Americans. In this amazing
situation, we can actually rebuke China's Communists, where more usually,
Americans feel powerless to make a difference in the face of Chinese tyranny.
This time, it will be different! The Olympics belong to the international
community, not to the Chinese Communist Party. We can send a strong and clear
message to China that the world has higher standards than this.

We ask
you to send letters of pressure to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to
your politicians, and also a letter to the editor. This is a joint action
combining the China Support Network, the Free China Movement, and the human
rights community. In 1989, Americans created the China Support Network, as we
reacted to Tiananmen Square's tragedy. Our campaign of "take back the
Olympics" may be our best chance in years to make a difference and draw the
line against abuse of human rights by Communist dictators and the perpetrators
of heinous atrocity.

If you
need a sample letter of pressure, use our written example at kusumi.com/action/pressure.htm.
We also hope that you tell a friend what you have found and done about this
issue. Everyone with concern for others and basic human decency will likely feel
revolted and offended at the use of the Olympics for cracking down, and for
applying the vicious practices of Chinese communism. We will always welcome more
involvement as we seek to stop the abuses, which amount to a holocaust in China.

This is
part of our larger cause, which has stood for many years. The China Support
Network represents Americans who care about the causes of freedom, human rights,
and democracy. Working directly with leading Chinese dissidents, we began to
help their efforts upon their escape from Tiananmen Square in 1989. Our causes
are pro-freedom, pro-democracy, anti-communist, and we favor a strengthened
American China policy. At the same time, we support only actions which are
non-violent and peaceful, in keeping with the character of the Chinese democracy
movement.

If you
are an American with compatible views -- believing firmly that China should join
the free world, and must have self-determination -- then, you are invited to
join the China Support Network.

My
readers may occur in two types -- comfortable, and less comfortable, with this
cause. If you would help the crowds of pro-democracy college students in
Tiananmen Square, then stand with us in the China Support Network (CSN). People
who are less comfortable might simply pressure the International Olympic
Committee on a humanitarian basis. To join the China Support Network, see the
URL, kusumi.com/action.

Many
people may wonder what ever became of us, the Tiananmen Square cause, and its
crew. Bravely standing for democracy and against tyranny, they were the original
rock stars of Generation X politics. Later, they returned to college, and seemed
to become China's invisible opposition. They should not be mistaken for gone.
The activism continues, and if you would care to join us at an event, you can
witness it first hand.

The
Tiananmen Square anniversary is, every year, marked by Chinese dissidents with a
significant public occasion. While we commemorate June 4, this year the
observance is on June 1. Leading Chinese dissidents will appear at the annual
gathering in Washington, DC. It occurs in front of the Chinese embassy, 2300
Connecticut Ave., N.W.. It is an early evening gathering, for two hours
beginning at 7 p.m.. Mark your calendar, if interested, and join us at this
upcoming event.

We also
seek volunteers to help spread the word about the CSN Olympic action -- the best
move for human rights in years. You can be a volunteer by simply moving this
information around the internet. If you are handy with the copy-and-paste
function, help by reposting this letter to other visible sites, within limits of
respectful netiquette. (Cyber activists can move the information; mention
the information; or link to the information.) If you have heftier
services to volunteer, get in touch. At the URL, kusumi.com/action, you will
also see that we seek contributions and financial backing.

We feel,
it is well to help this cause, because it has been low profile and not covered
in the media for some years now. This results in less fundraising and shortages
of cash. The cause includes many pockets which are strapped financially. Your
contributions make a larger difference for this reason.

I
believe that world outrage is about to snap back at China's Communist leaders.
To lose the Olympics may represent a black eye for China; a loss of face; and,
international humiliation. Theirs is a flagrant and blatant outrage. Now is the
time to rediscover the China Support Network. In matters of life and death, we
are pulling for life, and relief for survivors of Chinese oppression.